Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 29 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 195 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) GAMES NATION Sambhal Jama Masjid survey: Muslim side to move SC against Allahabad High Court order Briefs Ashoka prof in custody The Supreme Court will likely hear Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s plea on Wednesday against his arrest over posts on Operation Sindoor. Arrested May 18, he faces non-bailable BNS charges including endangering national integrity. FIRs were lodged after complaints from Haryana’s women’s commission and a sarpanch. He’s in judicial custody till May 27. Mahmudabad claims his comments were misunderstood and asserts his right to free speech. MR Srinivasan is no more ‘NO RELIEF TILL CASE IS VERY STRONG, GLARING’ FPJ News Service MUMBAI “There is a presumption of constitutionality in favour of every statute. For interim relief, you have to make out a very strong and glaring case. Otherwise, the presumption of constitutionality will remain,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai said on Tuesday, while hearing petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. A bench comprising CJI Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih was hearing multiple challenges to the new law, which alters how waqf properties— Pakistan’s Gen Asim Munir has been promoted to Field Marshal, becoming the second ever after Ayub Khan. The move follows his leadership in recent hostilities with India, where Pakistan sought cessation after Indian strikes. Munir, former ISI and MI chief, became army chief in 2022. Munir thanked national leaders, calling the honour a symbol of the people's trust in the military. SEE WORLD Musk to cut donation Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO, announced he will significantly scale back political donations. Musk, who reportedly gave $250 million to Republican causes during Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, said, “I’m gonna do a lot less in the future. I think I’ve done enough.” His remarks mark a pivot from his previously active political involvement, including his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump. Speaking at an economic forum in Qatar, Musk reaffirmed his commitment to stay on as Tesla’s CEO for at least five more years, addressing concerns over how his political activities may affect the company. religious endowments under Islamic law—are managed and administered. The petitioners—including MPs, civil rights groups, and Muslim religious bodies— have raised several concerns about the amendments. These include the deletion of the ‘waqf by user’ provision, which had recognised longstanding religious use of property even without formal registration. They also object to new rules permitting the nomination of non-Muslims to Central and State Waqf Boards, and a clause requiring a person to have practised Islam for five years before creating a waqf. During Tuesday’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to restrict arguments to three core issues identified earlier by the bench: ‘waqf by user’, the nomination of non-Muslims to waqf boards, and the identification of government land as waqf. Mehta said the government had submitted its affidavit on these points and requested that the court not entertain additional issues raised by the peti- Bhujbal back in Cabinet Prajakta Pol MUMBAI Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal was sworn in as a Cabinet minister in Maharashtra’s Mahayuti govt on Tuesday. The oath ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan, with Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan administering the oath. This move comes ahead of the Jayant Narlikar passes away Munir named Field Marshal Edit Is the BJP concerned about getting caste equations right? WAQF ACT CHALLENGE | CJI cites constitutional presumption in denying interim relief to petitioners challenging the amendments Dr M R Srinivasan, ex-chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, died at 95 in Chennai. A key figure in India’s nuclear energy programme, he helped develop 18 reactors and worked with Dr Homi Bhabha on Apsara. He also founded NPCIL and led the Madras Atomic Power Station project. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his immense contributions. SEE NATION Dr Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, renowned astrophysicist and science populariser, died at 87 in Pune. He founded IUCAA, led TIFR’s astrophysics group, and earned global acclaim for his cosmology work. Honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and the UNESCO Kalinga Award, Narlikar also wrote science fiction and received the Sahitya Akademi award for his Marathi autobiography. His pioneering efforts made astronomy accessible and inspired generations of scientists and thinkers. SEE NATION Cinema Akshay’s banner sends `25 cr notice to Paresh Rawal Mumbai Indians aim to confirm their place in IPL Playoffs with victory against DC STATE HOUSING POLICY 2025 35 lakh houses to be built in 5 years civic body elections scheduled later this year. Bhujbal, 77, had been left out of the Cabinet after the 2024 Assembly elections. “Everything was decided eight days ago, and now the swearing-in is taking place. All’s well that ends well,” he said after taking oath. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit tioners reported Live Law . Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, opposed this plea. Sibal argued that although a previous bench led by then CJI Sanjiv Khanna had flagged these three issues, it had not limited the scope of the hearing. He said all provisions of the amended law that infringe on fundamental rights must be open to challenge. Sibal called the 2025 amendments an attempt to “capture waqfs through a process which is non-judicial.” 4Contd on | nation Nashik puzzle Pawar, along with other ministers and senior leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, attended the ceremony. Bhujbal takes over the post previously held by Dhananjay Munde, who resigned after his aide was linked to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. With the induction of Bhujbal, the tussle over the Guardian Minister post for Nashik is expected to intensify. Currently, Nashik district has three Cabinet ministers School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, Agriculture Minister Adv. Manikrao Kokate, and 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation PM champions ‘inclusivity’ for global health FPJ News Service MUMBAI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that the future of a healthy world hinges on inclusion, integrated vision, and collaboration, presenting India’s health reforms as a blueprint for the Global South. In a video address at the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Modi endorsed this year’s theme, 'One World for Health', saying it reflects India’s holistic vision for global well-being. He recalled his 2023 address where he had advanced the idea of 'One Earth, One Health', underlining its continued relevance in a fragmented world. At the core of India's approach, Modi stressed, lies inclusion. He cited Ayushman Bharat — the world’s largest health insurance scheme — which now covers over 580 million people and was recently extended to include all citizens above 70 years of age. Modi detailed how India’s vast network of Health and Wellness Centres aids in early screening for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, while thousands of India’s health model offers scalable, inclusive solutions for the Global South, says PM at WHO summit public pharmacies provide affordable, quality medicines. Technology, he added, has been a game-changer. He highlighted India’s digital health initiatives, including platforms for tracking maternal and child vaccinations, a unique digital health identity system integrating health records and benefits, and a nationwide telemedicine service that has facilitated over 340 million consultations — ensuring "no one is too far from a doctor." 4Contd on | nation HEAVY SHOWERS LASH MUMBAI Devashri Bhujbal MUMBAI Heavy rains, thunder, and lightning swept through Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan-Dombivli on Tuesday evening, bringing a welcome break from the intense summer heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed the MMR under a yellow alert for the next four days, predicting light to moderate showers across isolated areas. According to the IMD, parts of Mumbai may experience thunderstorms with lightning, rainfall of varying intensity, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph. A red alert has been sounded for Sindhudurg until May 24, while an orange alert is in place for Ratnagiri, Ahilyanagar, Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Latur, and Dharashiv. According to IMD’s local forecast for Mumbai and its suburbs over the next 48 hours, the maximum and minimum tempera- tures will hover around 34°C and 26°C, respectively. Skies will remain generally cloudy with the possibility of thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall. The IMD’s Mumbai office has also cautioned that rain and thunderstorms are likely to intensify over the next four days due to the formation of an upperair cyclonic circulation over the east-central Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast on May 21. 4Contd on | nation CITY MAY EXPERIENCE MODERATE SHOWERS FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS PIC: FAROOQ SAYED Kalpesh Mhamunkar MUMBAI The Maharashtra State Cabinet has approved the State Housing Policy 2025, with the central slogan "My Home, My Right", aiming to provide sustainable, safe, and eco-friendly housing for every citizen in the state. It comes after an 18-year gap, replacing the last housing policy framed in 2007. The state government has set a target of constructing 35 lakh houses by 2030, specifically for the Low-Income Groups (LIG), and Middle-Income Groups (MIG). Additionally, the policy aims to build 50 lakh houses over the next 10 years, expecting an investment of Rs 70,000 crore. A district-level review is planned in 2026 to assess demand and supply, guiding future planning and implementation. The policy is designed around four guiding principles i.e. affordability, inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience. It promotes data-driven decision-making, technological advancement, transparency, speed, and social inclusion. A centralized State Housing Information Portal (SHIP) will be developed to monitor housing demand, geo-tag assets, track fund disbursement, and integrate with systems like MahaRERA, MahaBhulekh, and PM Gati Shakti. AI tools will be used for predictive analysis and real-time decision-making. Special provisions are included for senior citizens, working women, students, and industrial workers. Rental housing will be offered to working women and students, while industrial workers will be provided rental housing for up to 10 years before transitioning to ownership. 4Contd on | nation MISRI BRIEFS DELEGATIONS ON PAKISTAN 6 die in Kalyan slab collapse NK Gupta MUMBAI PTI As multi-party delegations leave for foreign capitals to convey India's strong stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, their members were briefed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on the neighbouring country's role in terror strikes and India's commitment to punish the perpetrators as well as their masterminds. Members, MPs and former parliamentarians, of three of the seven such delegations were briefed, and they are expected to meet government functionaries, including ministers, legislators, Six people, including a two-year-old girl, died and six others were injured after a concrete flooring slab from a fourth-floor room collapsed to the ground floor in Kalyan East on Tuesday afternoon. The incident took place in the Saptshrungi cooperative housing society, located in Chikni Pada on Tisai Road . It is a ground plus four-storied building with a total of forty rooms. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the six people who lost their lives in the Kalyan mishap. The deceased have been identified as Namashvi Shrikant Shelar (2), Pramila Kalcharan Sahu (56), Sunita Nilanchal Sahu (38), Sushila Narayan Gujar (78), Vyankat Bhima Chavam (42), and Sujata Manoj Wadi (32). The injured are Vinayak Manoj Padhi (4), Sharvil Shrikant Shelar (4), Nicholas Chandrashekhar Kharat (26), Aruna Veer Narayan, Yash Kshirsagar, and Shraddha Sahu. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation NEW DELHI Rajesh Moudgil The head granthi (priest) of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, Giani Raghbir Singh, on Tuesday refuted the statement of Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, the army’s in-charge of air defence, that the latter had permitted the deployment of air defence guns in the Golden temple complex to counter the potential drone and missile threates from Pakistan during Op Sindoor. Maj Gen Kartik C Seshadri, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 15 Infantry Div, had also said that Golden Temple was targeted by Pakistan and the India’s air defence system had successfully intercepted and neutralised them. However, Giani Raghbir Singh, held that although he was abroad during the Army operation, there was no communication with him regarding any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib. He described the Army officer’s statement as shockingly untrue. Meanwhile, Giani Amarjeet Singh, additional head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib also rejected the Army claim. He clarified that the management of Sri Harmandar Sahib had cooperated with the district administration’s guidelines regarding the city-wide blackout by switching off exterior and upper lights of the complex within the specified time frame. on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-OccupiedKashmir in retaliation against last month's Pahalgam terrorist attack. Deka (62), a 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, was in June 2022 appointed as the IB chief for two years. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation second extension PTI NEW DELHI Counter-terrorism expert Tapan Kumar Deka was on Tuesday given an additional one-year term till June 2026 as the chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the second such extension for him. This comes amid the evolving security situation in the wake of India's strike on May 7 Online Report NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Tuesday restored the condition that a minimum practice of three years as an advocate is necessary for a candidate to apply for entry-level posts in judicial service. The period of practice could be reckoned from the date of provisional enrollment. The said condition will, however, not apply to recruitment process already initiated by the High Courts, Live Law reports."To fulfil the said requirement, the candidate must possess a certificate duly certified either by the Principal Judicial officer of that court, or an advocate of that court having minimum standing of 10 years duly endorsed by the Principal Judicial officer of that district or a Principal Judicial Officer of such station. In case of a person practising at the Supreme Court or the High Court, a certificate by an advocate having a minimum standing of ten years, endorsed by an officer designated by the Court, will act as proof. Experience as law clerks can also be counted towards the 3-year practice condition. In the judgment, the Court said that allowing fresh law ‘No guns were in Golden Temple’ IB chief Deka gets CHANDIGARH SC: 3-yr law practice must for judicial service entry